Perfectly Parvin

Gr 6-10–Abtahi’s charming debut will have readers cheering for Parvin as she navigates her freshman year of high school. Fourteen-year-old Iranian American Parvin Mohammadi is elated as she prepares to start high school in her Northern Virginia town. She’s just scored her first kiss from her first boyfriend and she and her friends, crafter-extraordinaire Ruth and social media sensation Fabian, are ready to take on James K. Polk High. Only Parvin is quickly dumped by her boyfriend, who tells her she’s “too much.” Parvin launches an initiative to tone down her voice, her hair, and her style, in order to catch the attention of a cute sophomore in time for the Homecoming dance. But she soon discovers that being demure like a rom-com heroine is difficult, as Parvin juggles Farsi lessons, changing friendships, and waiting for her aunt’s visit from Iran. Parvin is an incredibly charming, funny, and lovable protagonist who greets life with unbridled enthusiasm. Ruth, who is Korean, and Fabian, who is Mexican, are wonderful counterparts who support but challenge Parvin as they deal with their own issues. Parvin’s parents and aunt are fully realized characters who get to the heart of Parvin’s Iranian heritage as she navigates her two cultures with vim. A visa issue highlights immigration bans in the United States, giving readers a personal look at a complex political issue.